Wednesday 30 November 2011

Scrapbook Kits with a Difference {December Inspiration Challenge} Creative Scrappers Sketch 185 - Christmas Together Layout

great inspiration challenge, as well as a sketch 
challenge, which you have the entire month to complete. 
Jules chooses a winner & you get sent a kit!
Sounds good?  Go take a look & see the new 
challenges which go up on the 1st of every month.


I'm sure you"ll agree that the inspiration photo is just divine.
There is SO MUCH you can draw from these images, I
honed in on the string, the ribbon, the colours, the bling
& the lace, but you can choose to be inspired any way!

I used Sketch 184 from Creative Scrappers as my spring board.

Instead of a strip of paper running horizontally 
along the bottom I went with mist instead, by 
masking off the top of my layout (just using an 
A4 piece of paper), Sunshine "Tattered Angels" 
Glimmer Mist & a Maya Road wooden doily as a mask.


 I clustered up some hand-made goodness here with 
blooms from both Purple Pumpkin & Precocious Paper.


 The tags are also from Purple Pumpkin & the 
sentiments have been in my stash several hundred 
years (at least). Those new Prima alphas are 
THE BUSINESS - they are GREAT!


 I layered under the photo with some Tim Holtz 
 packaging & some GCD Soul Food Motivational
Cards.  Quick.  Easy.  Me Likey.


 Finally I have some new Prima Bling.  A
girl can't afford to ever be without it!



Supplies List for "Christmas Together" Layout

Cardstock - Bazzill
Glimmer Mist - Tattered Angels - Sunshine
Mask - Maya Road Wooden Doily
Doily, sheer ribbon & sentiment stickers - stash
Other papers - Tim Holtz packaging & GCD 
Melody Ross "Soul Food" Inspiration Cards x 3
Felt & cupcake blooms & leaves - 
Precocious Paper - Etsy
Lace Flower, tickets & doily - Purple Pumpkin
Bling Swirl - Prima Item 550561
Buttons - Pebbles Candy Dots
Numeral alphas - Making Memories
Brown Alphas - Prima Item 550066

***So remember to make a note of the December
Challenges going on at Scrapbook Kits with a Difference 
& play along for a chance to win (all entries are also 
showcased on the blog!)***




Tuesday 29 November 2011

3 Scrappy Boys Crop - Grade One Layout


This is the last of my crop challenges for 3 Scrappy Boys.
The challenge was to use a sketch so I chose this 
GORGEOUS one from Creative Scrappers.

I had this sheet of beautiful scalloped die-cut paper 
from Little Yellow Bicycle that I bought earlier this year.
I like some of their stuff but find it difficult to get hold of 
online so I only had this and nothing to co-ordinate 
with it - big mistake as it sat {alone!} for months...

I was determined to use it for this challenge & as brown
always looks good with blue I looked through my browns 
{I stock REALLY OLD paper by colour - not manufacturer) 
& found this ANCIENT sheet of Cosmo Cricket "Gingerbread" 
from 2007, which I thought was a great match 
{every paper has it's time to shine!}

 I've scrapped these photos before - not sure why we 
ordered so many of them!!  But she sure was cute as a 
little girl wasn't she?!  She's becoming a bit too "pre-teen"
for my liking right now!!


 I LOVED hauling out my cookie jar full of neutral 
& earthy toned flowers - I'm not a 100% flower girl
like some but I get withdrawals if I leave them alone
too long..


Prima, Petaloo, Maya Road & even some other blooms
in there make for an eclectic mix!


Can you see that cork?  It's the negative from a sheet
of cork alphas {that were on circles}and it added some 
great texture - so glad I kept it!


 New Studio Calico alphas updated it all a bit...


Lush blooms!



That centre rose is resin & rescued from a necklace of mine that broke.

Supplies List for "Grade One" Layout

Backing Paper - Cosmo Cricket - Gingerbread
Die-cut paper - Little Yellow Bicycle
Journaling Cards - Fancy Pants
Decorative stick-pins - Jenni Bowlin
Ink - Color Box - Creamy Brown
Heart stick-pin, cork & pearls - stash
Flowers - Prima, Petaloo, Maya Road & Stash


***Used up lots of old stuff on this one & it was fun! 
Gosh my stash is overwhelming me a bit right now -
I need to take some time off soon to spend with
my family but whenever I don't scrap my stash
seems to breed...what to do, what to do!!***




Monday 28 November 2011

3 Scrappy Boys Crop - Vintage Mum Layout!


I did this layout for a crop challenge at 3 Scrappy Boys
where we were required to scrap photos of ourselves.
I have been sorting through all my old photos & came
across these VERY OLD ones! 

I combined it with a sketch from Creative Scrappers
{loving sketches again right now}.

Used paper & embellishments from Glitz Design
- Beautiful Dreamer collection.

Tickets from Purple Pumpkin, inked up a bit,
and the last of my pearls by the yard :(


The kids loved looking at these photos of me - 
unfortunately they are practically all I have from
my childhood!  How times have changed!!


 I used 3 different colours of mists - pink, orange & green.
The trick is a very light hand spritzing at a 30 degree angle,
slightly overshooting the page.  Then take off the cap &
tap with your fingernail to achieve the splodgy dots.


Supplies List for Vintage Mum Layout

Printed papers & diecut roses - Glitz Design - 
Beautiful Dreamer Collection - Houndstooth & Polka
Lace Paper - Basic Grey Lemonade
Roses - glitz Design - Beautiful Dreamer "What Nots"
Stickers - Glitz Design Beautiful Dreamer
Tickets - Purple Pumpkin
Stick-pins & pearls - stash
Teeny alphas - Glitz Design - Rose Grunge
Chipboard Alphas - American Crafts - Hard Cover
Mists - Maya Road - Pink Lemonade & Orange Sherbet
Studio Calico - Mr Huey - Clover




Sunday 27 November 2011

A win, a Giveaway & a some Great Deals!





I had a little win this week - woohoo!!  I won this!  Lucky, lucky me :)


Not too shabby!  And 24 sheets of it too - Yay Me!!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Have you all seen this great giveaway going on over
at Sketchabilities?!?  All you need to do is help us
reach 1200 followers & comment on this post 
that you follow or have become a new follower.

Once we reach 1200 Fans (I don't think it will 
take too long) one random, lucky scrapper will win
4-12x12- paper packs! YES FOUR!!  HERE IS 
WHAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE AT WINNING!
1-12x12-Echo Park-Apothecary Emporium
1-12x12 Teresa Collins-Haunted Hallows
1-12x12-Teresa Collins-World Traveler
1-12x12 Teresa Collins-Christmas Home
Prize package is worth $50.00 and will ship
internationally if required!
--------------------------------------------------------
 I missed most of the Black Friday Online Sales as I had
a date with hubby that was too irresistable to pass up :)
Our big daughter is home from uni so at last we had a 
babysitter!  But I have found a worthwhile deal that 
is still going on a bit longer.

I finally bought some yummy goodies from Evalicious
{click in there & you will see she has a 20% off sale on
through Monday!}  I've loved her classy products for
a long time - but they don't come cheap - so I finally
pounced while I had the chance!  

-------------------------------------------------------


There are also some SERIOUSLY AMAZING
good deals going on at 3 Scrappy Boys
Heather is practically GIVING THINGS AWAY!!
Just click in and take a look - I guarantee you won't
come away empty handed {unless you have A LOT
more willpower than me!!}








Saturday 26 November 2011

I played at The Color Room {All Paired Up Layout}


Finally I got to play at The Color Room this week.


I used Sketch 183 from Creative Scrappers as my starting point.

Only problem is I thought Friday was Thursday!?!
{until I received the reveal letter on my BlackBerry...}
So I missed the deadline...(gave myself a slap!!)

So I was officially "too late" but nonetheless I'm back there :)

 These are my daughter's best school friends together with their
partners at their school graduation dance.


 I used a doily that I folded down the centre to reduce the size.


And finally got to use this beautiful embellishment from Pink Paislee.


 And some lovely new Prima flowers I bought online recently.


 I glittered up these old Heidi Swapp chipboard alphas.



Supplies List for "All Paired Up" Layout

Cardstock - Bazzill
Printed paper - Crate Paper Peppermint Collection
Doily - stash
Butterflies - Jillibean Soup
Alphas - American Crafts Thickers (Subway)
and Heidi Swapp Chipboard (Lemonade Stand)
Glitter Nail varnish - Essence - Space Queen
Flowers - Prima
Leaves - Precocious Paper
Buttons - My Mind's Eye
Swirly Sticker - Basic Grey
Glitter Stickers - Prima - Madelaine
Flat-back button badges & frame embellishment -
Pink Paislee Sweetness Collection

Thanks for Looking :)
Things are getting a little "Holiday Hectic" around here now!
The end of the term here in South Africa is always
"crazeeey days!!!"  Kids are writing exams{which means
"mum's taxi" is operating at all sorts of different times
throughout the day} & Cami is in the middle of a string of
performances at her dance academy so it's all "go-go-go!"




Thursday 24 November 2011

Bird is the Word has a new challenge up! The word is Trust! {Glitz Design Vintage Blue Layout - Trust Layout}






Bird is the Word is such a cool challenge site 
because it is SO EASY to play along with any of 
their challenges & also to combine them with other 
challenges, plus there is always an awesome new 
Tidbitz in Time kit up for grabs for the winner, as well 
as a "Featured Badge" for all 5 featured winners 
{who are all chosen by the Design Team}
I really encourage you to play along this fortnight by 
incorporating the word TRUST anwhere on your layout.



layout design - I turned the sketch on it's side and
substituted the chevron design for strips of paper,
masking tape, packing tape & Tim Holtz mini film strips.

I was inspired to do the "strip thing" from seeing so many 
SMASH projects around and like the casualness of it -
it's also good for a masculine layout I think.



To create my background I just cut up some strips of Glitz 
Design "Vintage Blue" paper & adhered it down randomly - 
layering masking & packaging tape under & over it {I tore
the tape instead of cutting it} then I stapled the Tim Holtz film 
strips on top.


 Once I had my vintage cards in place I marked them
with pencil where they could be cut so as not to waste
them underneath my photo, then I kept the extra bits
to use up in future.  (I used one of these bits on the
card I blogged about yesterday).


Before adhering my photo {which I matted with printed paper
from the same collection)I unraveled some thread to use as
embellishement & adhered each end underneath the photograph
then randomly matted the rest of it, adhering it with micro glue
dots{best invention ever!}


 Next I added stickers from the same line ("Seize the Day"
& Let's have an adventure") then scratched around in my
embellishment drawer & found the compass, sandpaper circle
& pinking sheared circle tag & layered that up into an
embellishment - that prompted my journaling "Trust your heart
& you will find your true North" - which I printed out onto photo
paper, together with the quote on the bottom right of the photo.



My printer was being temperamental & splodged ink on
the journaling - my first thought was to reprint it -then I
decided - nah, it looks pretty cool, so I left it & grunged the
journaling up further using my inks.



 I also inked up the Sassafras numerals & the Tim Holtz
Idea-ology tags - spraying them with mist & water then
wiping off the excess before randomly sanding them.


 Great quote.  Look here for more.


 Supplies List for "Trust Your Heart" Layout

Printed paper - Glitz Design "Vintage Blue" -
Blue Motif, Blue Floral, Blue Polka
Masking tape, packing tape, staples,
thread, compass, tag  - stash
Tickets & filmstrips - Tim Holtz Idea-ology
Stickers & "what-nots" - Glitz Design
Vintage Blue
Numeral stickers - Sassafras Green Graph
Font - Traveling Typewriter
Inks- Green & Ochre - Making Memories





Wednesday 23 November 2011

Just a Quick Clarification...





I feel that I should clarify that I DID NOT 
MAKE THE TAGS on my post here this week -

"The 12 tags of Fall series with Nancy Burke"

I did say at the end of the post that I hadn't had time 
myself to actually experiment with the idea & was just 
posting it as inspiration for others.  

I have a weekly blog day now over at 3 Scrappy Boys
and I used this post there as I found the tag series so inspiring! 
I would hate to take credit for another's work and I'm so sorry
if I didn't make that absolutely clear originally, I thought I did :)  

I definitely do want to experiment with those
tags one day soon though for sure!!




Good Morning Handsome Card


We had a mini-crop over at 3 Scrappy Boys last 
weekend & I created this card for a challenge 
where we had to use a punch & Stickles.
I used Stickles on the heart & my Martha 
Stewart vine punch.

See yesterday's post if  you don't remember that I cut
up the Glitz Design "what-nots" cards so that I didn't
waste them behind my photograph.  
Here is one of them I put to good use.



 The word stickers are also from the same line - I raised
them up on 3D stickers.  As a finishing touch I pushed a 
couple of decorative stick-pins into the top of the heart.

Talk about getting a head start on Valentine's day!

Supplies List for "Good Morning Handsome" card
Paper & stick pins - stash
What-Not card, heart sticker & word stickers - 
Glitz Design "Vintage Blue" collection
Punch - Martha Stewart Crafts - Vine
Printed paper - Glitz Design 'Vintage Blue"  Polka Dot




Tuesday 22 November 2011

What to do if your Google account is Disabled {it just happened to me!} and how to avoid your blog being deleted.





Yesterday, whilst blog-hopping I was asked to
"sign in"to my Google account (very unusual as it's 
usually automatic) and when I tried I was told
my account had been disabled.

When I read what was written on the pop-up 
{about whyGoogle would choose to deactivate it }
none of the explanations applied to me. 
{sexual content/bad language/hate speech etc} 
then there was a clickable link right at the end of the
pop-up, where you could fill in an online form and send it 
to Google if you thought you were 
wrongly disabled.  So I filled that in.

I couldn't comment on blogs easily after that as I needed 
to keep inputting my name & URL {blog address} each 
& every time or comment as "Anonymous" - then I kept 
forgetting to say who I was...

I then refreshed my private blog (which I use as my
"launching pad" to access all the sites I follow & as my 
schedule diary for my DT commitments, etc) & it also
disappeared!  Instead I got a blank page with some
writing on the top saying the blog no longer existed.
(or something to that effect...)

 I tried to report my blog as "missing" but I couldn't 
- because, to do that, I had to sign in with my 
Google account!  So there was nothing I could do 
but wait to be contacted about my Google account first.

I then went to post a message on my blog 
(you know like you go toflick the light switch on
duringa power outtage??) but of course I couldn't 
"get in" to it (but amazingly enough it was still there...)
but I could only view it as an outsider, there was no way
I could sign in to access my dashboard.  

Then I remembered that my blog designer still had access 
{she is waiting to attempt to reinstall the fonts I originally 
chose but needs me to first clean up my sidebar} so I 
e mailed her to see if she still had access, and YES, she did!

She suggested sending me admin rights but to do that I 
would need an alternative e mail address.  To avoid any
"cookie-confusion" I registered with MSN & got a 
Hotmail address, only for us to then realise that I would 
need a blog, and to get that I would need a Google account!

I received an e mail from Google first thing this morning 
{which would have been the middle of the night in the US} 
apologising for the inconvenience & telling me the issue should
now be resolved.  No explanations but everything is back to 
normal! Except me!!  I am totally exhausted. Physically 
from being up half the night trying to "fix it"
and mentally from my concern about it all.

I had to be out all day & couldn't resolve the issue on
my BlackBerry as it still wasn't letting me sign in, so 
although everything was back to normal this morning I had to
wait until 10pm to find out.  When I got back onto my 
computer my Google account was restored, as was my 
private blog, and I could access "Scrap Addict".

What did I learn? 

INVITE SOMEONE ELSE {obviously someone you 
trust}as an author on your blog.  Send them admin 
rights. IT'S FAR MORE UNLIKELY THAT A BLOG
WITH MULTIPLE AUTHORS WILL BE DELETED.

Just doing that now so that I can go to bed!!





The 12 Tags of Fall Series by Nancy Burke {teaching you to work confidently with Mists}





***Every Wednesday is my Blogging day over at
& the post below is what I shared there last week!***

----------------------------------------------------------

All month so far I have been following a fantastic series
of tutorials over at Nancy Burke's blog, called 
"The 12 tags of Fall."


 You can see the first post here and thereafter there are 
another 11 consecutive posts, each one showing, 
step by step,through photos and easy to understand text,
exactly how to make a little tag full of interesting detail.

I have learnt so much just from reading each post,
even without actually trying out any of the tags as yet!
That's why I'm blogging about it here, because I really
believe that it's a series all scrapbookers should take
a look at, especially if you are like me & love your mists:)

Some years ago I followed a similar series on Tim Holtz 
blog but found the techniques a bit intimidating for me 
& also that I didn't have all of the materials required on 
hand in my stash already.  Personally, I found Nancy's tutorials
easier to follow & loved that I already had everything
required to make the tags already "in stock" in my stash!

While I am generally a "layout" girl I definitely see the 
advantage of making these tags because, not only do
they make for fabulous gift tags & give us the
opportunity to play with & use up our ever-growing 
piles of stash  BUT also because they allow us to experiment 
with new techniques, which is like taking a free online class!  
Gotta love that!!

Experimenting on a little tag is also a great way of 
building your confidence so that when you are working on 
a layout & want to achieve a similar effect you know
exactly how to go about it!

This time of the year is too busy for me to experiment 
but I have bookmarked Nancy's tag series & am definitely
going to refer back to it as soon as I can and give all her
marvellous techniques a go!

If you haven't got into the whole "misting" trend yet
you really should!  It is SUCH FUN & the mists seem
to last forever - I've had some of mine for over a year now
& I mist on loads of my layouts!!

3 Scrappy Boys has a really comprehensive selection of
mists available in the store here & my advice would be
to grab yourself a couple & give Nancy's tutorials a try!
The store also has a great selection of tags, braid,
buttons, stick pins and more here in the "miscellaneous"
embellishment section if you are in need of anything!


Do share your creations with us in the gallery if
experiment with any of Nancy's wonderful tags!!

Helen 



Monday 21 November 2011

3 Scrappy Boys Online Store MEGA SALE!!!


Guess what happened yesterday? 
It was the 2 year anniversary of Heather purchasing 
3 Scrappy Boys and we are celebrating! 
Starting with a big sale-up to 30% off on regular items. 

Plus, there are loads of new items to both the 

There is some awesome stuff in there! 
Don't forget, there are HUGE discounts on the products 
in the past kit clearance and special deals sections.

   There is just ONE December daily kit  left, so run 
and grab it quick!  If you miss out on that
last kit, there are December 2010 kits still available 
(at 50% off) that would make creating your own December
daily album a breeze. 
They can be found herehere, and here.



    If you're looking for gift ideas as the holidays approach,
  there are a few-kits which would make great gifts. 
Everything you need in one package to make several projects-
makes me happy just thinking about it 
and I know I'm not the only one. 

Since they are all on sale, now is the time to buy.
The Smash products are another great idea and they are
hot right now. Reasonably priced journals are always a great 
gift for friends, teachers, kids, you name it! 

How about a subscription? Check out the great deals before

THEY ARE ALL GONE!!  Have a happy scrappy week!






Sunday 20 November 2011

Many good uses for all those boxes your online stash shopping arrives in...{This one's for Kitty lovers}





The art of sleeping in a box
Start with simply sleeping on your back...

 
 Or on your side.


  
Consider using the top flap of the 
box as a pillow.


 
If you are longhaired, use the benefit 
of your coat and tail.


 
Remember that you and your box 
must nearly become one.


 
Use your imagination: 
try an S-like position.


 
Or an inverted C-like position...


 
Or even an L-like one.


 
If you totally trust your humans,
relax your back legs to the maximum.


 
Sometimes O-like positions do not fit 
the box well, but you can always experiment.


 
If the box is rather small, try sticking  
your paws & tail out of it...


 
Or stretch just one paw out, like this
(back paw)..


 
Or like this (front paw)..


 
Invite your friend to join you...


 
And enjoy it.


 
Your humans may wonder how 
you can sleep like that..


 
Ignore them and  enjoy..Perhaps 
they will not even notice you..


 
To avoid unwanted attention, choose
a box that matches your fur color.

Or you can trying hide in 
an absolutely unexpected box..


 
This position is for experienced yoga cats..


 
As well as this one..


 
Even small boxes will do in a pinch...

 
You can use any box-like structure 
you can find to get some practice..

 
Just remember to be creative!


 
There are two means of refuge from
the miseries of life

          Music and cats - Albert Schweitzer